한글의 자소-음소 변환과 관련된 뇌 영역: 기능자기공명영상 연구

초록

Background: Hangeul is a phonographic script, and it is written with adequate arrangements of vowel(s) and consonant(s). This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show the brain areas involved in the grapheme-phoneme conversion system. Methods: Images were acquired using a 1.5T scanner from twelve right-handed normal participants (M:F= 10:2) while they performed two kinds of visual decision-making tasks. The mean age of the subjects was 27.6±3.1 years. In the first condition, two one-syllable words that had no meaning but could be read were displayed. In the second condition two arrangements of vowel(s) and consonant(s) that could not be read were displayed on a screen. Participants were asked to determine whether the two were the same or different. All participants responded by pushing buttons, and all reaction times and errors were recorded for every participant. Data analyses were performed based on a general linear model. Results: Areas showing greater activation under the second condition than under the first included the bilateral lateral occipital cortices and the right parietal cortex (FDR corrected p<0.05). However, none of the activated areas showed more significant activation under the first condition than under the second. Conclusions: These results suggest that the known grapheme-phoneme conversion system for Hangeul words might be located in both the posterior temporo-occipital and right parietal cortices.

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